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Best states for a waitress
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for waitresses in the United States. Waitress positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for waitresses.In fact, our research shows that Arizona is the best state for waitresses in America. The best city in America for waitresses with the highest pay is Washington, DC.
In order to get you the best states for waitresses, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.If you are currently seeking employment as a waitress, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for waitresses in 2025
1. Arizona
Total waitress jobs: 1,141 Average annual salary: $29,566 Lowest 10 percent earn: $19,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location Quotient: 1.37
2. New York
Total waitress jobs: 1,476 Average annual salary: $32,853 Lowest 10 percent earn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Location Quotient: 0.81
3. West Virginia
Total waitress jobs: 242 Average annual salary: $26,407 Lowest 10 percent earn: $17,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
4. Colorado
Total waitress jobs: 988 Average annual salary: $26,884 Lowest 10 percent earn: $18,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
5. Michigan
Total waitress jobs: 1,242 Average annual salary: $24,916 Lowest 10 percent earn: $17,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
6. California
Total waitress jobs: 3,333 Average annual salary: $30,740 Lowest 10 percent earn: $20,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location Quotient: 0.8
7. District of Columbia
Total waitress jobs: 80 Average annual salary: $34,940 Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location Quotient: 0.34
8. Vermont
Total waitress jobs: 53 Average annual salary: $30,692 Lowest 10 percent earn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location Quotient: 0.49
9. Washington
Total waitress jobs: 680 Average annual salary: $29,817 Lowest 10 percent earn: $20,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location Quotient: 0.66
10. Massachusetts
Total waitress jobs: 726 Average annual salary: $30,992 Lowest 10 percent earn: $21,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location Quotient: 0.56
Waitress jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a waitress
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a waitress
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | $29,566 | $19,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,141 |
| 2 | New York | $32,853 | $22,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,476 |
| 3 | West Virginia | $26,407 | $17,000 | 1,815,857 | 242 |
| 4 | Colorado | $26,884 | $18,000 | 5,607,154 | 988 |
| 5 | Michigan | $24,916 | $17,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,242 |
| 6 | California | $30,740 | $20,000 | 39,536,653 | 3,333 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $34,940 | $23,000 | 693,972 | 80 |
| 8 | Vermont | $30,692 | $22,000 | 623,657 | 53 |
| 9 | Washington | $29,817 | $20,000 | 7,405,743 | 680 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $30,992 | $21,000 | 6,859,819 | 726 |
| 11 | Oregon | $27,788 | $18,000 | 4,142,776 | 386 |
| 12 | Illinois | $25,700 | $17,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,513 |
| 13 | Maine | $26,909 | $20,000 | 1,335,907 | 124 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $24,126 | $16,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,642 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $26,690 | $18,000 | 1,059,639 | 95 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $24,307 | $17,000 | 1,342,795 | 237 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $25,885 | $18,000 | 5,576,606 | 577 |
| 18 | Missouri | $23,893 | $16,000 | 6,113,532 | 887 |
| 19 | Delaware | $25,330 | $17,000 | 961,939 | 142 |
| 20 | Florida | $23,051 | $16,000 | 20,984,400 | 3,890 |
| 21 | Maryland | $26,208 | $17,000 | 6,052,177 | 833 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $22,190 | $15,000 | 4,454,189 | 708 |
| 23 | Nevada | $22,365 | $14,000 | 2,998,039 | 530 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $29,950 | $26,000 | 1,427,538 | 72 |
| 25 | Connecticut | $25,292 | $17,000 | 3,588,184 | 340 |
| 26 | New Jersey | $24,694 | $16,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,054 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $21,257 | $14,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,059 |
| 28 | Ohio | $21,723 | $14,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,677 |
| 29 | Kansas | $22,353 | $15,000 | 2,913,123 | 390 |
| 30 | Indiana | $21,752 | $14,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,066 |
| 31 | Iowa | $22,659 | $15,000 | 3,145,711 | 382 |
| 32 | Arkansas | $22,533 | $15,000 | 3,004,279 | 268 |
| 33 | North Dakota | $23,533 | $16,000 | 755,393 | 43 |
| 34 | Wyoming | $21,690 | $14,000 | 579,315 | 91 |
| 35 | Georgia | $22,232 | $15,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,353 |
| 36 | Virginia | $23,071 | $15,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,223 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $20,814 | $14,000 | 5,024,369 | 780 |
| 38 | Idaho | $22,240 | $14,000 | 1,716,943 | 184 |
| 39 | Utah | $22,038 | $14,000 | 3,101,833 | 378 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $20,508 | $14,000 | 2,984,100 | 300 |
| 41 | Texas | $19,482 | $13,000 | 28,304,596 | 4,206 |
| 42 | Alabama | $20,462 | $14,000 | 4,874,747 | 516 |
| 43 | Alaska | $23,303 | $19,000 | 739,795 | 43 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $21,369 | $14,000 | 2,088,070 | 201 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $20,230 | $13,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,380 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $19,549 | $13,000 | 4,684,333 | 494 |
| 47 | Montana | $19,394 | $13,000 | 1,050,493 | 177 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $20,895 | $14,000 | 869,666 | 47 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $18,371 | $12,000 | 3,930,864 | 502 |
| 50 | Wisconsin | $19,790 | $13,000 | 5,795,483 | 605 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $20,442 | $13,000 | 1,920,076 | 192 |
Highest paying states for waitresses
| Rank | State | Avg. Waitress Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | $29,566 |
| 2 | New York | $32,853 |
| 3 | West Virginia | $26,407 |
| 4 | Colorado | $26,884 |
| 5 | Michigan | $24,916 |
| 6 | California | $30,740 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $34,940 |
| 8 | Vermont | $30,692 |
| 9 | Washington | $29,817 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $30,992 |
| 11 | Oregon | $27,788 |
| 12 | Illinois | $25,700 |
| 13 | Maine | $26,909 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $24,126 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $26,690 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $24,307 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $25,885 |
| 18 | Missouri | $23,893 |
| 19 | Delaware | $25,330 |
| 20 | Florida | $23,051 |
| 21 | Maryland | $26,208 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $22,190 |
| 23 | Nevada | $22,365 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $29,950 |
| 25 | Connecticut | $25,292 |
| 26 | New Jersey | $24,694 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $21,257 |
| 28 | Ohio | $21,723 |
| 29 | Kansas | $22,353 |
| 30 | Indiana | $21,752 |
| 31 | Iowa | $22,659 |
| 32 | Arkansas | $22,533 |
| 33 | North Dakota | $23,533 |
| 34 | Wyoming | $21,690 |
| 35 | Georgia | $22,232 |
| 36 | Virginia | $23,071 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $20,814 |
| 38 | Idaho | $22,240 |
| 39 | Utah | $22,038 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $20,508 |
| 41 | Texas | $19,482 |
| 42 | Alabama | $20,462 |
| 43 | Alaska | $23,303 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $21,369 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $20,230 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $19,549 |
| 47 | Montana | $19,394 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $20,895 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $18,371 |
| 50 | Wisconsin | $19,790 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $20,442 |
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Updated January 8, 2025